Otherpower Steam Generator

[Boyntonstu]

Would this engine design be in the ballpark?

Steam Engine - New 2 Piston Single Cylinder Wood Prototype

youtube.com/watch?v=Kv26DkTMQO­k

[otherpower]

raycheshire1: Steam engines are silent when they're not doing anything... this one is just about dead quiet. Till you make it 'work'. In this video it's running a generator and producing 3kW. So the noise is the 'exhaust' from the engine which we send up the stack to draft the fire. Locomotives do the same thing, and they make the same sort of sound when they're working hard.

[ozzirt]

@otherpower Sorry I missed this post earlier.

Having retired after 43 years experience in steam propulsion, I can tell you categorically that steam engines under load should not make "mechanical" noises like that.

Unless I have it wrong and we are hearing an open exhaust note.

[raycheshire1]

What is making that horrible noise? Steam engines are nearly silent.

[torodi1995]

is this like an old smokemachine or something?

[partsproduction]

@0812201 It's not like any exhaust steam sound I've heard. So your using the exhaust for forced draft, and it must be restricted to some degree to get velocity to move more air. There is very little back pressure? What is the nominal HP rating for the engine? Was the boiler built for the engine or did you find a boiler that met the engine's requirements. It's a great looking engine BTW, I hope to find one about that size soon.

[otherpower]

@partsproduction

The draft is not restricted but it's still coming off at pretty high pressure. The engine is 'rated' 6hp (at least thats what it says on it). Its a 6" bore if I recall, and 8" stroke. The boiler is much newer than the engine, it was built in the 1940's, the boiler is probably rated about 4hp based on the size of the fire box, and at 2-3kW output... that is about what we're getting back out in electricity. (746W=1hp)

[partsproduction]

@0812201 Is that what is causing the noise?

[Tuskengod]

Heh, that thing's really loud. Though it looks fucking awesome.

[thechurchofdave]

I think what I love about this most is that instead of an experimental toy making all sorts of ridiculous claims, there it is. Working under load and making usable electricity.

It's not some high priced eye candy full of expensive parts put out by some no answers website looking for investors, it's a useful, running machine with huge amounts of documented, working science behind it.

Not only do I love the windmills from these guys but I love this as well. Because it freakin works!

[maltelec]

Quite often the hotwell has the oil seperator built into it.

[Tabooga65]

very cool. wish I had one.

[maltelec]

Ever thought of a coil of pipe in the smoke stack to pump water round before your central heating boiler (assuming you have one)? No fire, the water goes out the same temp it goes in and the central heating boiler does all the work. With a fire, the water is heated up and the central heating boiler only had to add a tiny bit, if at all.

[Tabooga65]

super great idea.

[maltelec]

Lag the boiler too.

[maltelec]

Along with a silencer and force draft I would consider fitting a condenser and running the hotwell reasonably hot, so you don't pump cold water into the boiler. You could run a vacuum pump on the exhaust but with a single cylinder engine it isn't worth the effort.

Conserving as much heat as possible while still operating the temperature difference across the engine will push the efficiency right up.

[SR722]

Awesome. What year is the engine?

[a95gas]

Kas per Sh?..

[epicdeuce]

I love that smokestack.

[aflacduky]

heat your house power your house and a AC your house all you need is wood and there ant so shortage of that

[LincTexPilot]

Dang it, Dan..... Now I am going to have to build/restore a steam engine for another alternate source of power. That is way too cool. Oh yeah... We have LOTS and LOTS of oak here in Texas! (Pin Oak, Live Oak, etc.) I can also get (for free) all the oak pallets and scraps I could manage to haul off.

[keanerulz25]

could you please make a video of your steam generator on a clear day, so i can see whats coming from the stack better.

[MikeWishesForBagels]

Thats amazing.

[TR4PRKEEP3R]

Congratulations, that is great generator, I like it alot